The exhibiting artists for the 167th edition of the Royal Photographic Society’s International Photography Exhibition (IPE), the world’s longest-running photography exhibition, have been announced. More than 5,200 photographers, both amateur and professional, submitted work for consideration in the 167th IPE open call. A guest panel selected 113 prints from 48 photographers for inclusion in the exhibition.
The IPE has always reflected the times, and this year’s submissions are no exception. Many photographers have focused on themes that include environmental issues — identity, conflict, memory, community, family, and culture.
The photographers have also used alternative processes to create the work, showing how contemporary photographers engage with and capture aspects of the world. They are not only visually compelling but also socially and culturally significant. The diverse ages and backgrounds of the submitting photographers further reflect the universality of photography as a medium.
Exhibition at the Saatchi Gallery, London
With this edition showing at the Saatchi Gallery, London, for the second year in a row, more people than ever will be able to view the work and appreciate the broad range of photography and themes captured in the final selection. Last year’s exhibition at the Saatchi attracted more than 65,000 visitors. The 167th IPE will tour to Taunton Museum (24 October 2026 to 9 January 2027) and then on to the Royal Geographical Society, London (5 to 28 April 2027).
Additionally, theprintspace, who support the IPE, will host a special, one-night-only showcase exhibition from 7 to 10 pm on Thursday 20th August 2026 at their space in Shoreditch, coinciding with World Photography Week. This will be followed by two daytime talks on Friday 21 August about the many options available for printing works. All artwork for this event will be printed in-house, highlighting the bespoke printing services theprintspace provides for artists and photographers.
Victoria Humphries, CEO of the RPS, comments: “Photography has a unique ability to bring people together, and the RPS International Photography Exhibition 167 is a wonderful example of that in action. This year’s exhibition showcases work from photographers across the world, from every stage of their photographic journey, united by a shared passion for seeing and interpreting the world through a lens”.
“As an organisation”, RPS CEO Humphries continues, “we believe that photography is for everyone. Those words are reflected in the breadth of submissions we received from both RPS members and non-members, and in the diversity of stories, perspectives, and experiences represented in the final selection.
“What I find most inspiring about this exhibition is the reminder that, wherever we live and whatever our background, photography helps us communicate ideas, emotions, and moments that resonate far beyond ourselves. IPE 167 celebrates not only outstanding images, but the global photographic community that continues to create, connect and inspire through photography.”
The selection panel of experts consisted of: Jaskirt Dhaliwal-Boora who is a multidisciplinary artist with a socially engaged practice; Lydia Goldblatt a British photographic artist based in London and previous recipient of the IPE 166 award; Max Gorbatskyi curator at Open Eye Gallery in Liverpool, UK, and co-founder of Ukrainian.Photographies; Irene Lombardo, Senior Cultural Manager for EMEA & Asia at Magnum Photos and photography consultant and historian, Dr Michael Pritchard.
The two award recipients for the 167th edition of the International Photography Exhibition have been announced, with Marcy Palmer, and Léa Chen receiving the honours.
Marcy Palmer received the IPE Award for her series Seeds of Strength and Resilience, which explores the history and future of reproductive rights, asking: how have recent restrictions affected women’s autonomy, and what will the future hold?
On receiving the IPE award, Marcy Palmer said: “My heart leapt and my eyes filled with tears upon reading my acceptance to the exhibition and receiving the IPE 167 Award. I am deeply honoured and thrilled, thank you.”
The Under 30s Award was presented to Léa Chen for The Stars That Don’t Look Back, which documents the intimate and private memories shared by three generations of women living in Taiwan.
On receiving the Under 30s IPE Award, Léa Chen said: “I feel deeply grateful to receive this award. The RPS’s supportive and inspiring community has helped my work reach and be appreciated by a wider audience, which is more than I could have dreamed of. I am truly excited to see where this award will lead me, and how it will continue to fuel my creative journey.”
Work from the exhibitors
| Exhibition Artists: | ||
| Jocelyn Allen | Itamar Freed | Marcy Palmer |
| Charlotte Audoynaud | Kat Green | Laura Pannack |
| Carolina Baldomá | David Hadland | Jennifer Pattison |
| Timon Benson | Abbey Hepner | Kate Peters |
| Toby Binder | Alex Huda | Josefine Rauch |
| Alicia Bruce | Kota Ishida | Hermione Russell |
| Siân Cann | Payal Kakkar | Evan Schwartz |
| Kate Carpenter | Dan Kitwood | Sujata Setia |
| Aletheia Casey | Jeremy Knowles | Krista Svalbonas |
| Sadie Catt | Julia Lê | Mara Vodinelic |
| Léa Chen | Adam Lin | Weirong Wang |
| Jeremy Chih-Hao Chuang | Shizza Majeed | Alexander Williamson |
| Robert Coxwell | Safa Basharat Malik | Oliver Woods |
| Felicity Crawshaw | Thomas Mandl | Almu Zambrana |
| Tom Dryden-Kelsey | Byron Mohammad Hamzah | |
| Tori Ferenc | Zed Nelson | |
| Attilio Fiumarella | Michael James O’Brien |
IPE represents a global gathering of talent
Billy-Jay Stoneman, RPS Curator & Head of Exhibitions, comments, “The International Photography Exhibition 167 brings together a diverse selection of photographic artists from across the globe. I am honoured to be part of the exhibition selection and development, a process where each dedicated selector carefully discussed and considered thousands of images.
“The IPE 167 is full of powerful images and themes that spark important conversations and invite reflection on the world we live in today. The wide range of photographic processes featured in this edition celebrates the creativity and passion of the artists, encouraging audiences to immerse themselves in the artwork, stories and discover the 48 featured artists.”
The complete list of IPE167 exhibitors, images, events and educational programme, and further information about the touring exhibition is available here: RPS International Photography Exhibition 167
The exhibition will be open at Saatchi Gallery, London between Friday, 7 August to Friday, 11 September, and entry is free.
About The Royal Photographic Society:
The Royal Photographic Society (The RPS) is an educational charity with an international membership. Founded in 1853, when photography was in its infancy, the objective of The RPS is to make the art and science of photography more widely available and is committed to bringing photography to everyone. Today, The RPS is a world-leading photographic community, made up of accomplished artists, dedicated academics, hobbyists, and seasoned professionals
The RPS aims to inspire people through its innovative exhibitions, its award-winning RPS Journal, and its highly respected awards and events. The RPS helps photographers create images through its educational programmes, qualifications, and its public initiatives, and it seeks to connect photographers through its UK and international community groups. Membership is open to everyone. RPS
About Saatchi Gallery:
Since 1985, Saatchi Gallery has provided an innovative platform for contemporary art. Exhibitions have presented works by largely unseen young artists, or by international artists whose work has been rarely or never exhibited in the UK. This approach has made the Gallery one of the most recognised names in contemporary art. Since moving to its current 70,000 square feet space in the Duke of York’s Headquarters in Chelsea, London, the Gallery has welcomed over 10 million visitors.
The Gallery hosts thousands of school visits annually and has over 6 million followers on social media. In 2019 Saatchi Gallery became a registered charity, beginning a new chapter in its history. Registered Charity Number: 1182328 | Duke of York’s HQ, King’s Rd, Chelsea, London SW3 4RY. Saatchi Gallery
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